# NTSB ERA09WA546: Piper PA18, Barbones, Ecuador, Ecuador, September 25, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Foreign investigation
- Date: September 25, 2009, 18:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Barbones, Ecuador, Ecuador
- Coordinates: -3.183055, -79.916664 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=-3.1831&lon=-79.9167&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Lead agency: Other
- Parties: IFO/FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74835
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09WA546
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74835/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74835
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09WA546

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Factual narrative

On September 25, 2009, about 1330 central standard time, a Piper PA-18-150, Ecuadorian registration HC-AHD, registered to and operated by FumiPalma S.A., crashed following a loss of engine power, while on an approach for landing at the Pista Bardones, El Oro, Ecuador. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot and passenger were killed and the airplane was destroyed by a post-crash fire. The flight originated from the same airstrip about 10 minutes prior to the accident. According to information obtained from the Ecuadorian Subdireccion de Aviacion Civil, the pilot completed several touch-and-go landings and made a stop for a break before the accident flight. After the break, the pilot took onboard a passenger for a local pleasure fight. After a duration of 10 minutes, the airplane was observed approaching for a landing, at which time the engine stopped producing power and the airplane impacted the terrain, 1,970 feet short of the intended airstrip. A fire ensued immediately following the impact. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Ecuador. Any further information can be obtained from: Direccion General de Aviacion Civil Departamento de Seguridad de Vuelo Buenos Aires 149 Y 10 de Agusto Casilla 2077 Quito, Republica del Ecuador Fax; 593-2- 223-8352 This information is for informational purposes only and contains information released by, or obtained for, the government of Ecuador.

## Aircraft

- Registration: HC-AHD (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA18 (150)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-7849
- Airframe hours: 600
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Non-U.S., non-commercial
- Operator: FumiPalma S.A.
- Registered owner: FumiPalma S.A.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Condition, August 3, 2009, 4 hours before
- Departed: Barbones
- Destination: Barbones
- Airport: Pista Barbones

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; seat: front

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observed at: SEGU

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 20, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74835. 11 KB in all.

- Document for Docket (item 1, .PDF, 11 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320700&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Document%20for%20Docket-Master.PDF

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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